Good morning. It's Sunday the 15th of January and here is the GB2RS news broadcast, prepared by the RSGB and intended for all radio amateurs and short-wave listeners. Now this week's headlines:- Packet radio has featured on the BBC; The IEE is to run a conference on '100 years of Radio'; and register now with the RSGB if you are participating in Thinking Day On The Air. Amateur radio has been featured on the BBC this week. A team from the Radio 5's Sybil Roscoe Show visited RSGB Headquarters on the 6th of January and recorded a programme about packet radio. The show, broadcast on the following Monday, included interviews with RSGB Council Member Neil Lasher, G6HIU, and General Manager Peter Kirby, G0TWW. It was a positive piece which emphasised amateur radio keeping up with the times. 1995 sees the centenary of the first practical demonstration of radio by Guglielmo Marconi. Amongst the celebratory events is a conference, '100 Year of Radio', sponsored by the Institution of Electrical Engineers. There is an opportunity for papers to be presented on amateur radio subjects and RSGB members are requested to read the story on page 15 of January's Radio Communication. This is an opportunity to mark the role of amateurs in the history of radio. Advice is available to anyone unsure of what is involved in producing a paper. Synopses must arrive at the IEE by Monday 23 January. Guides Thinking Day on the Air will take place during the weekend of 18th and 19th of February. A list of participating GB Stations and of countries permitting Third Party Greetings Messages for this event is available from RSGB Headquarters. The list will be sent on receipt of an A4 Self Addressed Stamped Envelope, with 38 pence in stamps. The address is: RSGB Lambda House, Cranborne Road, Potters Bar, Herts, postcode EN6 3JE. Please mark the envelope 'TDOTA'. Any Group using a GX or similar club callsign during the event should notify HQ if they want their callsign to be included in the list. A new permanent special event station is active. GB2GMM, which stands for 'Guglielmo Marconi Memorial', is administrated and operated by members of the West Wight Radio Society. The station is located at the Needles Pleasure Park, Alum Bay, Isle of Wight, on the actual site used by Marconi. For further information contact Ron Kissick, G3RJK whose address is correct in the RSGB Call Book. A new RSGB Liaison Officer (RLO) has been appointed for Powys. He is Gordon Rogers, GW0RJV, and his address is Maesgwersyl, Garthmyl, Newtown, Powys SY15 6RS. His telephone numbers are 01686 640611 (home) and 630327 (office). RLOs hold a wide range of information and they are available to help any RSGB member seeking advice. The St Austell repeaters, GB3NC and GB3HB, may be off-air any time between 9am and 5pm tomorrow, Monday the 16th. This is due to a scheduled loss of the mains electricity supply to the repeater site. Now some items of HF DX news from the weekly RSGB DX News Sheet which is edited by Brendan McCartney, G4DYO. From Ghana, PA3ERA and PA3FUE expect to be active as 9G1AA from next Tuesday the 17th until Tuesday the 31st of January. From Juan Fernandez Island, JA7AYE and his wife will use the call CE0Z / ZP5XTE from next Thursday the 19th until Sunday the 22nd of January. Activity will be mainly on the LF bands, CW only. We have no rally news for you this week and know of one event for next Sunday the 22nd of January: This is Oldham Amateur Radio Club Mobile Rally which to be held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Civic Centre, West Street Oldham. Doors open at 11am, or 10.30am for disabled visitors. The event features many trade stands and a bring and buy stall. Also RSGB Morse Test will be available on demand, subject to two passport size photos and the relevant fee. Refreshments will be available in the Failsworth Suite. Talk-in will be on 2 metres, channel S22 via GB4ORC. Again this year, a prize and a certificate will be awarded for the furthest mobile contact with an operator on his or her way to attend the rally, up until 2pm, For further details telephone 0161 652 4164. Next, details of two rallies which have not appeared in RadCom: The Lancaster Rally, is to be held at Lancaster University, Lancaster on Sunday the 29th of January. Doors open 11am, or 10.30am for disabled visitors. This years event is in larger halls, with more trade stands, a bring and buy stall and special interest groups stands. Refreshments will be available. Further details from Susan, G1OHH on 01524 64239 or 01384 896199. The Taw & Torridge Rally takes place at the Bideford Hall, The Pill, adjacent to Victoria Park, Bideford, North Devon on Sunday the 26th of February. Doors open at 10.30am. The event features trade stands and a bring and buy stall. Refreshments will be available. For further information contact Mike, G3PGA on 01271 860930. HF contest news now: The first leg of the RSGB LF CW Cumulative Contest takes place this month: the 1.8MHz event is next Tuesday, the 17th of January, from 2000 to 2200 UTC; the 7MHz event is on next Saturday the 21st from 1000 to 1200 UTC; and the 3.5MHz event is next Sunday the 22nd from 1600 to 1800 UTC. December's RadCom, page 78, gives detailed information. Next some VHF contest news: The RSGB 144MHz CW Single Operator Fixed and All Others Contest takes place today, Sunday the 15th from 1000 to 1600 UTC. The January edition of RadCom gives the incorrect Adjudicator for this contest. In fact, all completed entries and check logs should be sent to, David Johnson, G4DHF, the Acting Chairman VHF Contests Committee, whose address is correct in the RSGB Call Book. The first of five RSGB 70MHz Cumulative Contest takes place next Sunday the 22nd from 1000 to 1200 UTC. There are three sections, Fixed station single operator, Open and Listeners. See January RadCom page 81 for further details. And now the solar factual data: The period from the 2nd to the 8th of January saw solar activity at very low levels. No flares were reported and geomagnetic activity was at mostly unsettled levels. The sunspot indices showed a slight increase from 11 on the 2nd to 36 on the 4th before declining to 12 on the 8th. The mean for the period was 24. Solar flux levels varied little from day to day but declined slightly over the period. The average was 76 units. The electron fluence levels increased every day and are now at a high level. x-ray flux levels showed a slight increase at the start of the period, peaking at A7.4 units on the 3rd but then declined to end the period at A1.7 units. The average for the period was A2.1 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the 8th was 84 units. Geomagnetic activity was mostly unsettled, but increased to active conditions on the 3rd with an Ap index of 21 units. The quietest day was the 8th with an Ap index of 7 units. The average for the period was Ap 14 units. The state has been 'nil, nothing to report'. For the period from the 27th of December to the 2nd of January, the British Geological Survey reported a decline in the aa indices from unsettled levels at the start, to quiet levels by the 1st with a daily figure of 9.9 nanoTeslas. Levels increased on the 2nd up to 34.0 nanoTeslas. The average for the period was 19.7 nanoTeslas, which is about K2. The monthly RI sunspot number for December was 26.7 with a maximum of 57 on the 11th and a minimum of zero on the 3rd. The smoothed sunspot number for June 1994 was RI 30.9 +/- 5. I'll repeat the figures: Spots - 24, Flux - 76, Ap index - 14, x-ray flux - A2.1, December spots RI 26.7. Now the ionospheric data for Central France. For the period from the 30th of December to the 5th of January, the F2 daytime at Poitiers, as reported by Meudon, averaged 7.0MHz. The 1st was a very poor day with the critical frequency down to 5.8MHz, but by the 3rd it had increased to 8.5MHz. The darkness hour lows declined from 2.9MHz on the 30th to 2.0MHz by the 5th. Spread-F was reported on some nights and the average for the period was 2.7MHz. The highs are taking place between 11.00 and 14.00 hours while the darkness hour lows are usually between 05.00 and 07.00 hours, but on the 1st the low was as early as 18.00. And lastly the solar forecast. This week the more active side of the sun should be rotating away. Solar activity is expected to be low with solar flux levels at about 80 units. Geomagnetic levels are expected to be quiet up to the 19th and then increase to active levels due to a recurring coronal hole. Ionospheric MUFs in the south during daylight hours are expected to be about 20MHz and 17MHz for the north. The darkness hour lows are expected to be at about 8MHz. And that's the end of the solar information. Finally in the main news, SSL has informed the Society that as of last Wednesday morning, the latest callsigns allocated were in the G0 Victor Papa and G7 Tango x-ray series, and Novice calls in the 2 0 Alpha Juliet and 2 1 Delta Oscar series. -- NEWS FOR THE SOUTH EAST Meetings for Monday the 16th of January: Braintree and District Amateur Radio Society has a talk entitled 'Electrical Safety' by Tony, G8LTY. Details from Margaret on 01376 327431. Dengie Hundred Amateur Radio Society has a talk on 'Power Supplies' by G7HBV. Details from Bob, G0UKV on 01621 776237. Sevenoaks and District Amateur Radio Society has a talk entitled 'Communications in Time of Disaster' by John, G1YQK. Details from The Secretary, Sevenoaks & DARS, c/o Council Offices, Argyle Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1HG. Welwyn-Hatfield Amateur Radio Club now meets at the Hyde Community Association Centre, Welwyn Garden City. Contact G7PLJ on 01920 462241 for further details. Meetings for Tuesday the 17th of January: Acton, Brentford and Chiswick Radio Club has its Annual General Meeting at Chiswick Town Hall. For further details telephone 0181 749 9972. Bromley and District Amateur Radio Society has its Annual General Meeting. For further details contact Alan on 0181 777 0420. Reigate Amateur Transmitting Society has a talk entitled '25 Years of Mobile Radio' by Rodney Gibson of Philips Research Laboratories. For further details telephone 01342 325322. Stevenage and District Amateur Radio Society has a 'General Get-together'. For more information contact Peter, G7HCL on 01438 724509. Meetings for Wednesday the 18th of January: Chesham and District Amateur Radio Society has a 'Trivial Disputes' Evening. Further details from Ian, G0RTF on 01494 676391. Chiltern Amateur Radio Club has its Annual General Meeting. Further details from Roy, G4YAN on 01494 534216. Hastings Electronics and Radio Club has a talk entitled 'Doing 'Time' in the Canaries' by Tony, G3ZQB. Contact Stan, G4ITM on 01424 430579 for details. Three Counties Amateur Radio Club has a talk entitled 'Local Repeaters - GB3GF and GB7GFD'. For details contact Tom, tel: 01428 606298. Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club has a talk on 'The European EMC Directive and CE Marking of Products' by Jim, G4XRU at the Stewards Room (please note the change of venue) at 8pm. Further details from G3WR on 01273 501100. Meetings for Thursday the 19th of January: Cray Valley Radio Society has a 'Donated Surplus Equipment Sale'. Contact Tony, G4WIF on 0171 739 5057 (during office hours only.) for details. Shefford and District Amateur Radio Society has a Members' Activity night. Further details from Paul, G1GSN, on 01462 700618. Southend & District Radio Society has a Junk Sale starting at 8pm at their new venue: The Druid Venture Scouts Hall, Eastern Avenue, Southend-on- Sea. Details from Stephen, G1XGP on 0171 623 9611, daytime. Sutton and Cheam Radio Society has a talk on 'Lightning' by Fred, G1HCM. For details contact John, G0BWV, tel: 0181 644 9945. Vange Amateur Radio Society has a 'Discussion Night'. Contact Doris on 01268 552606 for further information. Meetings for Friday the 20th of January: Crowborough and District Amateur Radio Society has its New Year Dinner - book via Mick, G6UUO on 01892 661807. East Kent Radio Society has a talk entitled 'QRP Operation' by Dick, G0BPS. Further information from Paul, G3VJF on 01227 743070. Maidstone YMCA Amateur Radio Society has a 'Rally meeting'. For further information contact John, G0RHO on 0622 832259 for details. Winchester Amateur Radio Club has its Annual General Meeting. For further details contact John, G4AXO, tel: 01962 860807. Meeting for Saturday the 21st of January: Crystal Palace & District Radio Club has a talk on 'Backyard Antennas' by George, G3DWW. For further details tel: 0181 699 5732 or 01737 552170. NEWS FOR THE SOUTH WEST Meeting for Monday the 16th of January: Appledore and District Amateur Radio Club has a talk on 'Space Communications'. Details from G4ETJ, tel: 01237 477301. Meeting for Tuesday the 17th of January: Plymouth Radio Club has a talk entitled 'Your First QSO' by Dave, G3VNG. Contact Frank, G7LUL on 01752 563222 for further details. Meetings for Wednesday the 18th of January: South Bristol Amateur Radio Club has a 'Bring and Buy' car boot sale. For more information tel: 01275 834282. Trowbridge and District Amateur Radio Club has its Annual General Meeting at 8pm. Further details from Ian, G0GRI on 01225 864698 (evenings only). Meeting for Thursday the 19th of January: Yeovil Amateur Radio Club has a film and talk on 'Robotics' by G5JJ. Contact Cedric, G4JBL on 01258 473845 for further information. Meetings for Friday the 20th of January: Saltash and District Amateur Radio Club has a technical talk on 'British Telecom' by John. Further details from Brian, G7SSH on 01752 844321. Torbay Amateur Radio Society has a Contest Entries and- Construction night. Further information from Walt, G3HTX on 01803 526762. NEWS FOR EAST ANGLIA Meetings for Wednesday the 18th of January: Ipswich Radio Club has a talk entitled 'The Digital Shouting Machine' by John, G4BAV at 8pm. Contact Sheila, G8HYE on 01473 742072 for further details. Norfolk Amateur Radio Club has a Club Quiz -Know Your Radio' by Peter, G3ASQ. For further information contact Mike, G4EOL on 01603 789792. NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS Meeting for Tuesday the 17th of January: Radio Society of Bloxwich has a visit to the RAC Control Centre Walsall. The number of participants is limited. Contact Chris, G0MLY 01922 683877 for details. Meetings for Wednesday 18th of January: Gloucester Amateur Radio Society has a Novice Group evening. For further details contact Les, G0ULH on 01452 421510. Telford and District Amateur Radio Society has a 'Contest Preparation for 1995' night. For further details contact Dave, G4EIX, on 0952 588878. Meetings for Thursday the 19th of January: Amateur Radio Club of Nottingham has a Construction evening. For further information contact Simon, G0IEG on 0115 950 1733. Northampton Radio Club has a talk with slides on 'The Lundy Expedition' by Lionel, G5LP. Details from Ron, G0TNM, tel: 01295 760640. Salop Amateur Radio Society has a Workshop and RAE Tuition evening. For further details contact Ian, G7SBD who is QTHR. Solihull Amateur Radio Society has a talk entitled 'Amateur Television' by Paul, G8MJW of BATC. Details from Paul, G8AYY on 0121 783 2996. Telford and District Amateur Radio Society has a discussion on 'Contests to Enter in 1995'. Details from Dave, G4EIX, on 01952 588878. The Hillcrest School & Community College Amateur Radio Society has its first Annual General Meeting at 7.30pm. Details from Arthur, G0IZF, who is QTHR. Meetings for Friday the 20th of January: Coventry Amateur Radio Society has a talk on 'VK-Land' by Sid. Further details from John, G8SEQ on 01203 617367. South Notts Amateur Radio Club has a talk entitled 'HF Contesting' by Chris Burbanks, G3SJJ, Chairman RSGB HF Contests Committee. Contact Julie, G0SOU on 01509 672734 for further details. NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND Meetings for Monday the 16th of January: Barnsley and District Amateur Radio Society has an 'Open Discussion' meeting'. Visitors are welcome. Further details from Alan, G4JKW tel: 01226 299031. Sheffield Amateur Radio Club has a talk entitled 'South Yorkshire Open College' by Steve, G7OCB of Matrec. Further details from David, G0JJR on 0114 244 6282. Thornton Cleveleys Amateur Radio Society has a talk on 'Compact Disc Players' by Steve, G4NVF. Further details from G4BFH who is QTHR. Meetings for Tuesday the 17th of January: Halifax and District Amateur Radio Society has a visit by Peter Sheppard, G4EJP, Zone 'A' Council Member. Contact David, G0DLM on 01422 202306 for further details. Liverpool and District Amateur Radio Society has a talk on 'The New Morse Test' by G3AVJ. Further details from Ian, G4WWX who is QTHR. Meetings for Wednesday the 18th of January: Denby Dale Amateur Radio Society has a 'Components' evening with Martyn, G3ZXZ. Details from Kevin, G1FYS on 01484 547553. Mid-Cheshire Amateur Radio Society has a talk entitled 'Practical Use of JV Fax' by Mike, G6GAK. Details from Ted, G0RBA on 01606 592207. Wirral Amateur Radio Society has a 'President's Night'. Further details from G3FOO, tel: 0151 644 6094. Meeting for Friday the 20th of January: South Manchester Radio Club has a talk entitled 'Practical Feeder Impedance Measurement' by G4HON. More information from Edward, G7FQY, tel: 061 969 1964. NEWS FOR SCOTLAND Meeting for Tuesday the 17th of January: Dundee Amateur Radio Club has a talk entitled 'Local Commercial Radio - Radio Tay'. Details from Allan, GM7ONJ who is QTHR. NEWS FOR WALES Meeting for Monday the 16th of January: Dragon Amateur Radio Club has a talk on 'Who Invented Wireless' by Pat, GW3KJW. For further details contact Tony, GW0FMQ, tel: 01248 600963. Meeting for Thursday the 19th of January: Barry Amateur Radio Society has a talk entitled 'Direction Finding and Fox Hunting' by GW4JOG. The new venue is: The BP Sports & Social Club, Sully Road, Sully. at 8pm. Contact Margaret, GW4GSH on 01446 738756 for further details. NEWS FOR NORTHERN IRELAND Meeting for Wednesday the 18th of January: Belfast RSGB Group has a talk on 'Home Construction for the Radio Amateur' by John, GI4XAP. Further details from Richard, GI0OUM who is QTHR. -- GB2RS is prepared by the Radio Society of Great Britain and is broadcast in the 80m, 40m, 6m and 2m bands. Tel +44 1707 659015 Fax +44 1707 645105